TRESPASS

First off, I will have to admit that I like From Genesis To Revelation as a great slice of 60s art pop/psych in a Moody Blues/Zombies/Bee Gees vein, but that is not what Genesis are known for and Trespass remains their first PROPER release. By the time of its recording Genesis had spent a long time writing the material, but listening to the album you almost think that some of it is spontaneous and being completely driven by Peter Gabriel's sometimes quiet, sometimes roaring intensity. The group had gelled with the only problem being a drummer not as good as Collins, but without Trespass there would not only have been none of the classic, great, timeless albums that followed, but there would be no Genesis. This album has been one of my most favourite prog albums for 10 years, and I attribute most of that to the fact that this is the most menacing and ominous Gabriel and the whole group ever sounded. Case in point would be "White Mountain" and "The Knife" which both are full of a dynamic haunting quality that breaks out into raving manic passages of sinister, otherworldly, gothic and frightening progressive/psychedelic madness. "The Knife" remains the hardest hitting song Genesis ever recorded- an anti war anthem with pounding guitars, heavy organ, and a really clever middle section that builds until an echoed scream and slashing guitars come in and the track never quite seems to end. Even when the record is over I still hear it for days and days afterwards. I believe that The Gabe IS Genesis, and here you really get to appreciate his multi-faceted talents as vocalist/flautist/ lyricist/songwriter. The rest of the group sound great too, especially on the opening track "Looking For Someone" with a demanding song structure that changes quite a few times. Elsewhere on possibly my favourite Genesis album there are moments of peace in the sad "Visions Of Angels" and the brilliant "Stagnation." Every track on this record has something to offer that pulls you in with a mythical, majestic quality that would become THE Genesis sound and lead to so much great music from one of the world's most revolutionary bands. Anthony Phillips plays some shockingly good guitar bits here, sometimes better than Hackett, Tony Banks is in top form, and Michael Rutherford's bass is always prominent. "The Knife" has been the most significant Genesis song in my life, and Trespass is one of their most significant albums.